Cutting unit for a lathe, planer or similar metal working machine



Oct. 7, 1958 MACHINE minimu ROY F. CK

FOR A HE, PLANER m. WORKING LE TING UN SIMILAR File United States Patent O CUTTING UNIT FOR A LATHE, PLANER OR SIMILAR METAL WORKING MACHINE Le Roy F. Beck, Waukegan, 111., assignor to Vascoloy- Ramet Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1954, Serial No. 443,463

2 Claims. (CI. 29-96) The present invention relates generally to cutting units for lathes, planers and similar metal working machines. More particularly, the invention relates to that particular type of cutting unit which is adapted to be mounted fixedly in the tool post of the machine for which it is designed and as its principal parts or components comprises: (1) an elongated bar-like holder which is formed of metal and has the front corner portion of its operating end cut away or removed so as to form a socket; (2) a chipbreaker which consists of a flat plate and an angularly disposed hard-metal breaker part on one corner of the plate and is mounted on the top surface of the operating end of the holder so that the corner with the breaker part overhangs the socket; (3) a bit which is formed of tungsten carbide or other ultra hard material and is disposed in the socket so that it abuts against the superjacent portion of the chipbreaker; (4) a vertically adjustable clamping member which normally underlies the bit and is adapted when adjusted upwards firmly to clamp the bit between it and the supeijacent corner portion of the chipbreaker and when adjusted downwards to release the bit so that it may be laterally adjusted with respect to the breaker part of the chipbreaker or removed for replacement purposes; and (5) screw variety means for effecting adjustment of the clamping member.

One object of the invention is to provide a cutting unit of the aforementioned type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed units and is characterized by simplicity of design and high efiiciency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting unit of the type and character under consideration in which the socket for the bit and clamping member is formed only in the upper front corner of the operating end of the holder, and the clamping member consists of a bit-engaging head and a depending cylindrical shank which fits slidably in a substantially vertical bore in the lower front corner of the operating end of the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting unit of the last mentioned character in which the operating end of the holder is provided with a vertically extending bore which is located inwards of the socket, has an open upper end and is in addition to the vertically extending bore for the shank of the clamping member, and is also provided with a horizontally extending bore between and in communicating relation with the lower ends of the two vertically extending bores, and the screw variety adjusting means for the clamping member comprises a screw in the upper end of the vertically extending bore that is inwards of the socket, a vertically slidable pin beneath the screw and a horizontally slidable pin in the horizontally extending bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutting unit of the type and character last mentioned in which the adjacent ends of the vertically and horizontally slidable pins have coacting cam variety surfaces and the adjacent ends of the horizontally slidable pin and the shank of the clamping member have coacting cam variety surfaces to theend that downward feed of the screw operates to shift the two pins to effect upward adjustment of the clamping member and upward feed of the screw causes release of the pins and resultant downward adjustment or sliding of the clamping member. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cutting unit which is generally of new and improved construction, embodies but a comparatively small number of parts, elfectively and etficiently fulfills its intended purpose, and is capable of being produced at a low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present cutting unit will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front top perspective of a cutting unit embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the operating end of the unit, showing in detail the arrangement and design of the chipbreaker, the bit and the clamping member;

Figure 3 is an end view of the operating end of the cutting unit;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrating in detail the location and design of the three bores in the operating end of the holder and also the arrangement and construction of the screw and pins that constitute the screw variety means for effecting adjustment of the clamping member;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the chipbreaker is fixedly but removably mounted in place on the top surface of the operating end of the holder; and

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the bit, clamping member and the two pins in dismantled or disassembled relation.

The cutting unit which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It serves as the tool of a lathe, planer or similar metal working machine and, as well understood in the art, is adapted to be mounted fixedly in the tool post of the machine. As its principal parts or components, the unit comprises an elongated bar-like holder 7, a chipbreaker 8, a bit 9, a clamping member 10 and a group or plurality of coacting parts constituting means for effecting adjustment of the clamping member.

The holder 7 is preferably in the form of a forging and has the upper front corner of the operating end thereof cut away or removed so as to form a box-like socket 11. The operating end of the holder 7 embodies in addition to the socket 11 a substantially vertically extending bore 12, a second substantially vertically extending bore 13 and a horizontal bore 14. The bore 12 intersects, and leads downwards from, the central portion of the surface that defines the bottom of the socket 11 and terminates a small distance above the bottom surface of the holder 7. The second substantially vertically extending bore 13 is located directly inwards of the socket 11 and is disposed in substantially parallel relation with the bore 12. Preferably the axes of the bores 12 and 13 lie in a vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal center line of the holder 7. The upper end of the second bore 13 inter sects the top surface of the holder and hence is open. The lower end of the bore 13 terminates a small distance above the bottom surface of the holder. The horizontal bore 14 extends between, and communicates with, the lower ends of the substantially vertically extending bores 12 and 13. The outer end of the bore 14 intersects the adjacent end surface of the holder 7 and hence is open.

The chipbreaker 8 of the cutting unit comprises a fiat plate 15 and a breaker part 16. The plate 15 is formed of'steel or any other suitable' 'metal and rests on the top surface of the 'operatingend of-the holder. It is fixedly but removably secured in place by way of a pair of screws 17 and has at the front outer corner thereof a flat upwardly and readwardly inclined surface 18. The

screws '17 extend downwards through holes 19 in the rear portion of the plate 15 and have the lower ends thereof normally disposed within screw threaded holes 20 in the upper rear portion of the operating end of the holder 7. The breaker part 16 of the chipbreaker 8 is formed of hard metal and fits against, and is welded to, the upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface 18 of the plate 15. It is in the form of a comparatively thin plate and functions to deflect and break the cuttings which result from operation of the bit 9 in connection with use of the unit. Preferably, the breaker part 16 is coextensive with the inclined surface 18. The chipbreaker 8 is arranged so that the corner with the breaker part 16 overhangs the socket 11. The inner portion of the plate 15 is of such shape or configuration that it does not, when the chipbreaker 8 is in its operative position, cover or overlie the open upper end of the substantially vertically extending bore 13.

The bit 9 of the cutting unit is formed of tungsten carbide or other ultra hard cutting material. It is normally disposed in the upper portion of the socket 11 and arranged so that a portion of its top surface abuts against the superjacent portion of the chipbreaker 8. The drawing shows the bit 9 as being rectangular in shape. It is to be understood, however, that the bit may have any other desired shape depending upon the character of the work to be cut by it. Preferably, the height of the bit is approximately half that of the socket 11.

The clamping member 16 underlies the bit 9 and is adjustable vertically. It is formed of steel or other suitable metal and consists of an enlarged bit-engaging head 21 and a depending cylindrical shank 22. The head is shaped substantially conformably to the bit 9 and is located in the lower portion of the socket 11. The shank 22 is preferably formed integrally with the head 21 and fits slidably in the bore 12 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. The lower end of the shank 22 projects into the outer end of the horizontal bore 14 and is beveled so as to form an inwardly facing cam variety surface 23. Such surface extends at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the axis of the shank and faces in the direction of the inner end of the bore 14. When the clamping member is adjusted or slid upwards, it operates to clamp the bit between the head 21 and the superjacent corner portion of the chipbreaker 8; and when the clamping member is adjusted or slid downwards it operates to release the bit so that it may be laterally adjusted with respect to the breaker part 16 of the chipbrealrer or removed from the socket 11 for purposes of replacement or conditioning by grinding.

The group of parts that constitutes the means of the unit for efiecting vertical adjustment of the clamping member consists of a screw 24, a pin 25 and a pin 26. The screw 24 is located in the upper end of the second substantially vertically extending bore 13 and has in its upper end a socket 27 whereby it may be rotated by a wrench or other suitable turning tool. The upper end of the bore 13 is screw threaded in conformity with the external or male thread of the screw 24 is order that the screw when turned in one direction feeds upwards and when turned in the opposite direction feeds downwards relatively to the bore 13. The lower end of the screw 24 is provided with a reduced stem 28. The pin 25 underlies the screw 24 and is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the lower portion of the bore 13. The lower end of the pin 25 projects into the inner end of the horizontally extending bore 14 and is beveled in such manner that it embodies an upwardly and outwardly facing cam variety surface 29. Such surface as shown in Figure 4 is disposed at substantially a 45 angle with respect to the axis of the pin. Preferably, the pin 25 is of circular cross section. When the screw 24 is turned so that it feeds downwards, the pin 25 is caused positively to slide downwards in the lower end of the bore 13 and when the screw is reversely turned so that it feeds upwards, the pin is released so that it is capable of sliding upwards. The pin 26 extends horizontally and is mounted for horizontal sliding movement in the bore 14. The inner end of the pin 26 is beveled so as to form an upwardly and inwardly facing cam variety surface 30 which is in sliding engagement with the cam variety surface 29 on the lower end of the pin 25 and coacts with the surface 29 in such manner that when the pin 25 is slid downwards, the pin 26 is caused to slide outwards with respect to the horizontally extending bore 14. The outer end of the pin 26 is beveled in such manner that it embodies an outwardly and upwardly facing cam variety surface 31. The latter is arranged in sliding engagement with the cam variety surface 23 on the lower end of the depending shank 22 of the clamping member 10 and coacts with the surface 23 in such manner that when the pin 26 is slid outwards in response to downward sliding movement of the pin 25 due to downward feed of the screw 24, the clamping member is caused to slide upwards into its operative position wherein the head 21 thereof serves to clamp the bit 9 against the superjacent corner portion of the chipbreaker 8. The open outer end of the bore 14 permits the pin 26 to he slid into its operative position in connection with assembly of the cutting unit.

The cutting unit is assembled by first inserting the pin 26 into the horizontally extending bore 14 and then turning the pin so that the cam variety surfaces 30 and 31 at the ends thereof face upwards as shown in Figure 4. After this step or operation, the clamping member 10 is positioned over the bore 12 and then manipulated so that the cam variety surface 23 on the lower end of the shank 22 thereof faces inwards. Thereafter, the clamping member is shifted downward so as to cause the shank 22 to extend through the bore 12 and have its cam variety surface 23 in sliding engagement with the cam variety surface 31 on the outer end of the pin 26. After the pin 26 and the clamping member are mounted in place, the pin 25 is introduced in the upper end of the bore 13 and then turned or rotated so that the cam variety surface 29 faces the cam variety surface on the inner end of the pin 26. Thereafter, the pin 25 is slid downwards so as to bring the surface 29 in sliding engagement with the surface 30. After this step or operation, the screw 24 is inserted in the upper end of the bore 13 by proper turning thereof. After the screw 24 is inserted into place, the chipbreaker 8 is applied to the top surface of the operating end of the holder 7 by way of the attaching screws 19. When the chipbreaker is in place, the clamping member 10 is prevented from becoming disconnected from the operating end of the holder 7. After mounting of the chipbreaker in place, the bit 9 is slid between the head 21 of the clamping member 10 and the portion of the chipbreaker that overhangs the socket 11. After such sliding movement, the bit is laterally adjusted to its proper position and is then clamped in place by turning the screw 24 so that it feeds downwards. As previously pointed out, downward feed of the screw causes the pin 25 to slide downwards and such pin through the action of the coacting cam variety surfaces 29 and 30 operates to slide the pin 26 outwards. Such sliding movement on the part of the pin 26 operates through the medium of the coacting cam variety surfaces 31 and 23 to slide the clamping member 10 upwards. Upward sliding movement on the part of the clamping member results in the bit 9 being firmly clamped between the head 21 and the superjacent portion of the chipbreaker 8. When it is desired to release the bit for adjusting or removal purposes, the screw 24 is reversely turned so that it feeds upwards. Upward feed of the screw releases the pins 25 and 26 so that they in turn permit downward sliding movement of the clamping member 10.

The herein described cutting unit due to the particular arrangement and mode of operation of its component parts effectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose and is not only capable of being produced at a low cost but also assembled and adjusted with facility.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since they may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a cutting unit designed to form the tool of a lathe, planer or similar metal working machine and comprising a bar-like holder adapted to have one end thereof mounted on the tool post of the machine, having the upper front corner of its other end removed so as to form a socket, and embodying a substantially vertical bore beneath the central portion of the socket and with its upper end open and in communication with the lower portion of the socket, a second substantially vertical bore inwards of the socket and with its upper end portion open and screw-threaded and a horizontal bore between and in communication with the lower ends of the two substantially vertical bores, a chipbreaker mounted on the top surface of said other end of the holder and so that the breaker part thereof overhangs the socket, a separately formed bit positioned normally in the upper portion of the socket and so that it abuts against the superjacent portion of the chipbreaker, a vertically adjustable clamping member consisting of an upper part disposed in the lower portion of the socket and a shank-type lower part mounted for vertical movement in the bore, and adapted when adjusted upwards to clamp the bit between its upper part and said superjacent portion of the chipbreaker and when adjusted downwards to release the bit so that it may be adjusted laterally or removed for replacement purposes, and means operative to effect upward and downward adjustment of said clamping member and embodying a screw in the upper end portion of the second substantially vertical bore and an operating connection between the screw and the lower end of the lower part oithe clamping member and including a part movably mounted in the horizontal bore.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a cutting unit designed to form the tool of a lathe, planer or similar metal working machine and comprising a bar-like holder adapted to have one end thereof mounted on the tool post of the machine, having the upper front corner of its other end removed so as to form a socket, and embodying a substantially vertical bore beneath the central portion of the socket and with its upper end open and in communication with the lower portion of the socket, a second substantially vertical bore inwards of the socket and with its upper end portion open and screw-threaded and a horizontal bore beneath and in communication with the lower ends of the two substantially vertical bores, a chipbreaker consisting of a plate and an angularly disposed breaker part on one corner of the plate and mounted fixedly on the top surface of said other end of the holder and so that the corner with the breaker part overhangs the socket, a separately formed bit positioned normally in the upper portion of the socket and so that it abuts against the superjacent portion of the chipbreaker, a vertically adjustable rigid clamping member consisting of an enlarged head disposed in the lower portion of the socket and a depending shank mounted for vertical movement in the bore, and adapted when adjusted upwards to clamp the bit between its head and said superjacent portion of the chipbreaker and when adjusted downwards to release the bit so that it may be adjusted laterally with respect to the breaker part of the chipbreaker or removed for purposes of replacement, and means operative to effect upward and downward adjustment of said clamping member and embodying a screw in the upper end portion of the second substantially vertical bore, a pin mounted for vertical movement in the lower portion of said second substantially vertical bore, the adjacent ends of the two pins being provided with coacting cam variety surfaces and the adjacent ends of the second mentioned pin and the shank of the clamping member being provided with coacting cam variety surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,023 Moore Nov. 21, 1939 2,357,918 Trippler Sept. 12, 1944 2,659,963 Severson Nov. 24, 1953 2,660,242 Lane Nov. 24, 1953 2,697,272 Clark Dec. 21, 1954 2,734,256 Forward Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 318,815 Germany Feb. 12, 1920 

